Abstract: Metal oxide nanoarrays, such as titanium oxide nanoarrays, having a platinum group metal dispersed thereon and methods of making such nanoarrays are described. The platinum group metal can be dispersed on the metal oxide nanoarray as single atoms. The nanoarrays can be used to catalyze oxidation of combustion exhaust.

Abstract: Metal oxide nanoarrays, such as titanium oxide nanoarrays, having a platinum group metal dispersed thereon and methods of making such nanoarrays are described. The platinum group metal can be dispersed on the metal oxide nanoarray as single atoms. The nanoarrays can be used to catalyze oxidation of combustion exhaust.

Abstract: The microfluidic devices and systems disclosed herein reduce sample loss and help decrease sample processing bottlenecks for applications such as next generation sequencing (NGS). The microfluidic devices include a plurality of reaction modules. Each reaction module may comprise one or more reaction circuits. Each reaction circuit may comprise a single reaction flow channel with each reaction circuit connected by a bridge flow channel. Alternatively, each reaction circuit may comprise two or more reaction flow channels connected by two or more bridge flow channels. The combination of any two bridge flow channels and a portion of the two or more reaction flow channels between the any two bridge flow channels defining may define the reaction circuit. The reaction module may be arranged as nodes connected by bridge flow channels or each reaction module may be arranged in a parallel fashion on the microfluidic device.

Abstract: A method of making a titanium dioxide nanowire array includes contacting a substrate with a solvent comprising a titanium (III) precursor, an acid, and an oxidant while microwave heating the solvent, thereby forming a hydrogen titanate H2Ti2O5.H2O nanowire array. The hydrogen titanate nanowire array is annealed to form a titanium dioxide nanowire array. The substrate is seeded with titanium dioxide before starting the hydrothermal synthesis of the hydrogen titanate nanowire array. The titanium dioxide nanowire array is loaded with a platinum group metal to form an exhaust gas catalyst. The titanium dioxide nanowire array can be used to catalyze oxidation of combustion exhaust.

Abstract: The microfluidic devices and systems disclosed herein reduce sample loss and help decrease sample processing bottlenecks for applications such as next generation sequencing (NGS). The microfluidic devices include a plurality of reaction modules. Each reaction module may comprise one or more reaction circuits. Each reaction circuit may comprise a single reaction flow channel with each reaction circuit connected by a bridge flow channel. Alternatively, each reaction circuit may comprise two or more reaction flow channels connected by two or more bridge flow channels. The combination of any two bridge flow channels and a portion of the two or more reaction flow channels between the any two bridge flow channels defining may define the reaction circuit. The reaction module may be arranged as nodes connected by bridge flow channels or each reaction module may be arranged in a parallel fashion on the microfluidic device.

Abstract: Metal oxide nanoarrays, such as titanium oxide nanoarrays, having a platinum group metal dispersed thereon and methods of making such nanoarrays are described. The platinum group metal can be dispersed on the metal oxide nanoarray as single atoms. The nanoarrays can be used to catalyze oxidation of combustion exhaust.

Abstract: A method of making a titanium dioxide nanowire array includes contacting a substrate with a solvent comprising a titanium (III) precursor, an acid, and an oxidant while microwave heating the solvent, thereby forming a hydrogen titanate H2Ti2O5.H2O nanowire array. The hydrogen titanate nanowire array is annealed to form a titanium dioxide nanowire array. The substrate is seeded with titanium dioxide before starting the hydrothermal synthesis of the hydrogen titanate nanowire array. The titanium dioxide nanowire array is loaded with a platinum group metal to form an exhaust gas catalyst. The titanium dioxide nanowire array can be used to catalyze oxidation of combustion exhaust.

Abstract: The microfluidic devices and systems disclosed herein reduce sample loss and help decrease sample processing bottlenecks for applications such as next generation sequencing (NGS). The microfluidic devices include a plurality of reaction modules. Each reaction module may comprise one or more reaction circuits. Each reaction circuit may comprise a single reaction flow channel with each reaction circuit connected by a bridge flow channel. Alternatively, each reaction circuit may comprise two or more reaction flow channels connected by two or more bridge flow channels. The combination of any two bridge flow channels and a portion of the two or more reaction flow channels between the any two bridge flow channels defining may define the reaction circuit. The reaction module may be arranged as nodes connected by bridge flow channels or each reaction module may be arranged in a parallel fashion on the microfluidic device.

Abstract: Side illumination is combined with scanning interferometry to provide a means for measuring with a single data-acquisition scan surfaces that contain sections suitable for interferometric processing as well as sections that are not suitable because of lack of fringes produced by the measurement. In the sections where no fringes are produced, the irradiance detected during the scan is processed using a depth-from-focus mapping method to yield a corresponding measurement. The result is a complete profilometric measurement of the sample surface with a single scan. In addition, by increasing sample irradiance through side illumination, the structural features of the sample become markedly more visible than when illuminated only by the object beam of the interferometer, which greatly facilitates finding focus and identifying regions of interest for the measurement.

Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine is calibrated by taking optical measurements of an optical flat that includes a grating placed on its surface. The arm of the CMM capable of multi-directional translation in relation to an object is fitted with a white-light interferometric objective and optical measurements are taken of the flat while translating the objective (or the flat) in the coordinate direction subject to calibration. The objective may serve also as the probe of the CMM.

Abstract: A systematic distributed storage system (DSS) comprising: a plurality of storage nodes, wherein each storage node configures to store a plurality of sub blocks of a data file and a plurality of coded blocks, a set of repair pairs for each of the storage nodes, wherein the system is configured to use the respective repair pair of storage nodes to repair a lost or damaged sub block or coded block on a given storage node. Also a distributed storage system DSS comprising h non-empty nodes, and data stored non homogenously across the non-empty nodes according to the storing codes (n,k). Further a method for determining linear erasure codes with local repairability comprising: selecting two or more coding parameters including r and ?; determining if an optimal [n, k, d] code having all-symbol (r, ?)-locality (“(r, ?)a”) exists for the selected r, ?; and if the optimal (r, ?)a code exists performing a local repairable code using the optimal (r, ?)a code.

Abstract: The invention features devices for fragmenting polymers or particles in a sample using a centrifuge. In its simplest embodiment, the device includes a body and a valve. The valve, to one side of which a sample is applied, is designed to remain closed until a specified centrifugal force is reached or exceeded. Once open, the valve allows the passage of the sample through a channel in the body. The channel includes one to four fragmenting regions, and the polymers or particles are fragmented as they traverse the fragmenting regions under an applied centrifugal force. The invention further features methods of fragmenting polymers using a device of the invention.

Abstract: Apparatus, devices, and methods for shearing nucleic acids are provided. In one exemplary embodiment the device is a disposable nucleic acid shearing cartridge. The cartridge includes two reservoirs, an orifice structure disposed therebetween, and a fluid driver. The reservoirs are in fluid communication with each other by way of the orifice structure, and the fluid driver cycles a sample between the two reservoirs. By passing a sample from one reservoir to the next, through the orifice structure, an orifice located in the orifice structure can shear the sample to a desired length. The sheared sample can then be used, for example, in a sequencing device. Apparatuses for cycling samples in the cartridge, and methods and kits for shearing nucleic acids, are also disclosed.